Saucony Guide 7 Review

PROS

Improved forefoot comfort, stability, and flexibility

Good support without being controlling.

CONS

Higher price tag than previous models.

VERDICT:
Saucony has taken a lot of time and care to develop the Guide 7, and it very apparent. The Saucony Guide 7 offers great forefoot comfort, super durability, and lasting comfort in a great daily supportive running shoe.

Saucony Guide 7 General Info:

The Guide 7 is the updated version of Saucony’s most widely awarded and popular stability shoe. The Guide 7 has been pain stakingly researched, tested, and engineered to harmoniously blend stability, cushioning, and flexibility into a daily stability trainer. Several improvements and changes have been made from the Guide 6 to make the Guide a better shoe and “your ultimate training partner.”

Saucony Guide 7 First Impression:

I have definitely have had a storied past with the Guide and have come through a few evolutions of the shoe. I was excited to have the opportunity to again review the Guide especially Since Saucony has put so much R&D into this version than any other in history.

Upon initially receiving the shoe I was pleased to see that a lot of focus had been given to the forefoot region of the shoe, which I found narrow and uncomfortable in the 6. Once I placed the shoe on my foot the satisfaction continued as not only did I find a roomier toebox, but it also seemed slightly more cushioned and fluid than I had remembered.

This version seemed to feel slightly stiff out of the box and it was evident that they would require a break in period. The construction is still very sound and looks to have improved in the outsole of the shoe.

Saucony Guide 7 Sole Unit:

The Sole Unit of the Guide 7 is where the most significant changes take place in the shoe. The first worth noting is a change in material. Saucony has switched from its ProGrid cushioning system to Power Grid for the 7 which is a 15% lighter and 30% more durable material.

While this switch is not outwardly apparent and did not lend itself to on overall reduction in shoe weight it did create a more responsive and resilient shoe particularly through the midfoot and forefoot. I will note that the cushioning of this newer system is slightly less soft than the 6, but the added resiliency and responsiveness more than make up for it.

The flared forefoot design is quite possibly one of the best adjustments that the Guide 7 has going for it. As I mentioned briefly and in my review of the Guide 6 I felt that the toebox was narrow and cramped leaving my toes feeling smashed and compressed.

The Guide 7 has eliminated this with this design which creates a wide comfortable platform to build from. The flared forefoot not only generates room for the toes, but generates smooth and stable propulsion throughout the latter stages of the gait cycle.

The Guide 7 still uses a decoupled beveled heel that was introduced in the six to help slow and combat any inward rolling. The Guide 7 is still a slightly posted shoe, however some redesign elements in the form of strategically placed crash pads in the mid foot have helped to reduce the shank size.

None of these features are heavy handed which make it appealing to a neutral runner like myself that needs some support on longer runs when your gait starts to fall apart or become sloppy.

The outsole is very reminiscent of the Guide 5. The directional triangle lugs that exposed more foam that were found on the Guide 6 are gone. Underneath the Guide 7 is now a more fan design with bigger patches of rubber creating more surface area and improving the traction of the shoe.

One thing that I think it also does is increase the overall durability to keep up with the miles that could be potentially be put on the shoe.

Saucony Guide 7 Upper:

So in case I hadn’t mentioned it yet, ha ha ha!, the 6 six had a very tapered and uncomfortable toebox. What a relief to have found the problem resolved. The Guide 7’s newly-created platform have a roomier wider toebox that is definitely more accommodating. Adjustments to the overlays have helped to open up the shoes fit as well.

A change in the upper material to a more open mesh Hydramax material was also made. The material wicked quite well and had an attractive smooth plush feel. The Upper had an overall nice feel with no noticeable pressure in any peak points.

Saucony Guide 7 Opinion:

The Guide as many of you know is one of Saucony’s go-to shoes and comes with an energetic following and a strong list of accolades. So it really shouldn’t come as a surprise when Saucony announced that they were going to do a little more R&D to help refine it.

What many didn’t realize was to the length they would go, and that Guide 7 represents the longest development initiative in the company’s history.

The Guide 7 is definitely representative of all the effort that went into developing it. The shoe is definitely as good as it ever was and more. Simply put the Guide 7 is a wonderful shoe for runners looking for that just right combination of support, comfort, and durability in a daily long distance support running shoe.

We thank the nice people at Saucony for sending us a pair of Guide 7 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

price comparison - Saucony Guide 7

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Jim Coulson is a career firefighter, husband, and father of two children hailing from the foothills of Colorado. Jim has been an avid road and trail runner since the age of 12, and loves to race locally and around the state a much as possible. A native Coloradoan Jim enjoys its trails, mountains, and outdoors taking advantage of all they have to offer as much as possible.

Just got these and like them a lot. Coming from the GT-2000 they’re pretty similar, but I think I like the Guide 7 better (200 lbs, flat feet, mid/forefoot strike, mild pronation, 5K’s to marathon). Hard to say.
I’ll likely rotate these with the GT-2000 2 and try to figure out which works best.
Any preferences out there between the Guide 7 and GT-2000 2?
Thanks.

I own a pair of Saucony Guide 6 that I love, so if the 7 was based around the 6, chances are I’ll end up buying them as well. Prior to owning this shoe I had a pair of Asics Gel 2170 which were good but not great for my needs. The Guide 6 has completely eliminated my shin splints. I now run 10K’s with no problems whatsoever.

I have worn the Guide 6’s since they came out and it was time for a new set of running shoes so I got the Guide 7’s. They felt great in the store and I was quite excited…… I never had any problems with the several pairs of Guide 6’s but these Guide 7’s give me the WORST blisters on the insides of both feet. I have not changed the type of socks I wear, my run route or my distance. The only change in my running routine is these shoes. Now I am on the search for Guide 6’s still out there and I am about to throw away a $100.00 pair of shoes… so sad because I love Saucony and have been wearing them for 15 years.

I guess my impression changed since the last 3 months. I logged more miles on my Guide 7 and it not only feels harder than the 6 but it also feels like the mid sole sagged a lot after 100 miles. It gets harder after 4 miles in a moderate run and it’s now giving me bloody blister. Does anyone have similar impression (mid sole sagging)?

I intended to buy Hurricane 16 unfortunately they don’t have the female version in store yet here in Ph I think. I agree with Linus as it did give me blisters as well. Had the same experience when I ran 23K interval pace (4:1), felt ok at first and then it gets harder after an hour especially after the second loop ofthe uphill part of the route. Had to go down to 3:1 then to 2:1 just to make sure I’d finish my training that day. Never had blisters from my running shoes before.

For the first time in years I am doing shoe research because my Guides are failing me. I bought the Guides 7 and in the past four months have had foot pain, calf pain and blisters. I have been a dedicated guide user since the Guide 3s. Not sure where to go from here, keep running in them, or try to find a new brand.

Hey , thnx for the review.
I own a pair of Mizuno Hitogami for some training and for the races . I love the Hitogami very much, especially for mid ranges are very fast and cushioning! I am thinking of buying another pair of shoes that are stable and cushion, for the regular weekly practices (25-30 miles/week) and I was thinking of buying a second pair of Hitogami. Nevertheless, after reading some reviews for the Saucony Guide 7 I am starting to think of buying them instead of Hitogami, as a training shoe. Nevertheless, I read some reviews here that are VERY BAD! But I have not seen such bad reviews anywhere else in review blogs etc. What do you think? What should I do? (I am training for a half marathon in 3 months and will have some 10k races in between)…maybe the blisters are because of the small shoe size??